Summary
- One Aer Lingus aircraft has been stranded in Washington DC, for nearly every week following a tail strike during a landing attempt.
- The incident caused the cancellation of the return flight to Dublin, and two other aircraft are being sent to cover the route temporarily.
- Aer Lingus has recently experienced other incidents, including a flight diversion to Canada as a result of a medical emergency, and is specializing in expanding transatlantic capability.
An Aer Lingus narrowbody aircraft has been stranded in the USA for five days following reports of a tail strike. The Airbus A321neo arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Wednesday, August thirtieth, and has remained there ever since.
What happened?
The Airbus A321neo, registered EI-LRD, departed Dublin Airport nineteen minutes behind schedule at 12:54. The crew appeared to make up the delay through the flight, and the plane began its initial descent into the airport. In accordance with flight tracking data, at 15:37, 4 minutes before its scheduled arrival, the aircraft reached as little as 450 feet before pulling back up for an additional attempt.
The aircraft then proceeded to an altitude of 3000 feet and repositioned for an additional approach for runway 01R. The second landing attempt was successful, with passengers arriving at Dulles just 12 minutes after originally scheduled.
Photo: FlightRadar24.com
In accordance with Aviation Herald, the crew subsequently reported the rationale for the go-around was a “false landing” and that the aircraft suffered a tail strike in the method. A photograph posted on the web site shows paint scraped off the tail of an Aer Lingus-liveried aircraft. Nevertheless, the image couldn’t be independently verified as of press time.
What was the result?
The aircraft has been grounded in Washington, DC, ever since. The return flight to Dublin, EI116, had been scheduled for 17:10 and was subsequently canceled. Two other A321neos have previously flown the route and are being sent in to cover within the meantime.
No further movements have been registered for the doubtless injured Airbus. The model took its first flight on February twenty fourth, 2020, and was delivered three days later. It seats 168 passengers in economy class with an extra 16 within the front. Although owned by Air Lease Corporation, the aircraft has flown for Aer Lingus since delivery.
Photo: MWAA
Easy Flying has contacted Aer Lingus and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for more information.
Making waves across the Atlantic
This will not be the primary such incident for Aer Lingus already this month. Yesterday, its flight EL45 from Manchester to Recent York diverted to Canada. Following what an airport spokesperson described as a medical emergency, the aircraft touched down at St. John’s International Airport in Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday afternoon. The aircraft remained on the bottom briefly and accomplished the remaining two and a half hours of the flight to Recent York JFK under flight number EUK9HR.
Transatlantic capability is vital for Aer Lingus this coming 12 months. The carrier recently announced two more links for the summer. From May seventeenth, Minneapolis may also return with 4 weekly flights because the airline is scheduled to boast 19 destinations across North America next summer.
Source: Aviation Herald